One of Merseyrail’s battery fitted Class 777s at the end of the line at Headbolt Lane station which opened in October 2023. This section from Kirkby isn’t fitted with electrified 3rd rail, hence the need for battery-electric trains to bridge the gap. 7 of the 53 strong fleet have been fitted with batteries in order to run the service which runs every 15 minutes, taking just 20 minutes to reach Liverpool Central. The yellow poster with an X on it in the cab window indicates that this unit can’t work in multiple coupled to another set. Meanwhile, over on the Wirral. Here’s Rock Ferry station, which used to be the terminus of Merseyrail electric services until 1985 when the 3rd rail was extended to Hooton, Chester and Ellesmere port. Before then, electric services used the two platforms to the left of the picture (now only used for stabling) whilst a diesel DMU shuttle ran to Chester and Helsby on the centre lines. There used to be six platforms here. On the far right were two more on the old GWR route from Birkenhead Woodside, which closed in 1967. Those lines were still used for freight to/from Birkenhead docks until 1993. They’re now disused. As you can see, the station is about to be fitted with lifts to make the Southbound (Chester) platform accessibleNow here’s a mystery! I spotted this at Birkenhead Central. It looks suspiciously like a trip-cock. A signal protection system used on the London Underground. I’ve never heard of (or seen) these being used on Merseyrail before, so I wonder if any reader can explain. A Northern Class 323 at Liverpool Lime St. These 1992-95 built trains never used to escape the Manchester area to make it as far as Liverpool until recently, when the fleet was strengthened with surplus units transferred North from the West Midlands. Originally, the plan was to keep them in service until the early 2030s. Now they’re all due to be replaced in 2027 as Northern are acquiring the fleet of stored Class 350/2s. Enjoy them whilst you can…The tower and clock of one of Liverpool’s classic palatial pubs – the Vines on Lime St. The interior is even more striking than the exterior.
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Paul Bigland 